Nor Azimah Khalid

FSKM, UiTM Shah Alam

Data Communications
Data communications the exchange of data

between two devices via some transmission

medium either wired or wireless
A Simple Data Communications Model

Data Communications
Components
Message the information to be communicated
Sender the device that sends the data message
Receiver the device that receives the message
Medium physical path by which a message
travels from sender to receiver
Protocol a set of rules that governs data
communications; representing an agreement
between the communicating device
Exercise: Give your own example

Direction of Data Flow

Simplex unidirectional
Examples - keyboards

Direction of Data Flow

Half-duplex each station can both transmit

and receive, but not at the same time

Examples walkie-talkie, home security
system
Exercise: Think of the advantages/limitations

Direction of Data Flow

Full-duplex both stations can transmit and

receive simultaneously
Examples telephone networks
Exercise: Think of the advantages/limitations

Networks
Networks set of devices (nodes) connected

by communication links
Exercise: Give example of nodes of a
network
Network criteria
Performance measured in many ways e.g.

transit time, response time

Reliability frequency of failure, failure
recovery time, robustness
Security protection from unauthorized access

Networks
Point-to-point a dedicated link exists

between two devices

Networks
Multipoint more than two specific devices

share a single link

Topology
Physical topology the way in which a

network is laid out physically

Exercise: Think of an example

Topology
Mesh every device has a dedicated point-to-

point link to every other device

A fully connected mesh network has n(n-1)/2
physical channels to link n devices
Advantages
Each connection can carry its own data load,

eliminating traffic problems

Robust if one link is unusable, the entire
system is not affected
Privacy/security only the intended recipient
sees its message

Topology
Advantages
Fault identification and isolation easier

Disadvantages
The amount of cabling is numerous making

installation difficult
A large space is needed to accommodate wiring
Expensive hardware

The disadvantages makes mesh installation

limited

Topology
Mesh

Topology
Star
Less expensive than mesh
Each device needs only one link and one I/O

port to connect to any number of others

Easy to install and reconfigure
Less cabling
Robust
Easy fault identification and isolation

Topology
Star

Topology
Bus
A multipoint connection
One long cable acts as a backbone to link all

the devices in a network

Nodes are connected to the bus cable by drop
lines and taps
Drop lines connection running between the
device and the main cable
Tap connector that splices into main cable

Topology
Bus
Advantages
Ease of installation
Less cabling than star or mesh
Disadvantages
Difficult reconnection
Difficult fault isolation
Degradation of signal quality as more
connections are made
Less fault tolerant

Topology
Bus

Topology
Ring
Each device has a dedicated point-to-point
connection only with the two devices on either side
of it
A signal is passed along the ring in one direction,
from device to device until it reaches its destination
Each device in the ring incorporates a repeater
Advantages
Easy to install and reconfigure
Fault isolation simplified
Disadvantage
Less robust

Topology
Ring

Categories of Networks

Categories of Networks
LAN

Categories of Networks
LAN

Categories of Networks
MAN

Categories of Networks
WAN